Mail chute



J. W. CUTLER.

MAIL CHUTE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.9. 1920.

1,413,9o2. atented Aprzs, 1922.

O 3 SHLL'S-SHEET 2. e 3 39 e m 'V J. W. CUTLER.

IVIAlL CHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.9, 92o.

1,41 3,902., r Patented Apr. 25, 1922. 4 l v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v INVEN-TOR JOSEEH WARRENCUTLR, or tocnnsrnn, NEWYQEK.

MAIL CHUTE,

Spccificatio of I ettersPa tent. lat f d A :Application 'filed Noirember 9, "1920. Serial No. 422921.

TO sall (whom it 'may ooccw: r

Be 1t ;known 'that :1, JoscrH `VARREN '.CUTI;.ER,.a citizen of the United'States, -rc-- siding at Rochester, in ;the 'County of Monroe and State of :New York, &have invented certain new ,and useful limprovements in D-ail Ghutespend Ido hereby :declaretle following to be za full, clear and exact" cle- :scription of the same' :reference beingfihad to 'the eccompanying -drawigs forming u ;part of this specificatiomland to the reference ;numerals marked the-reon.

:My present invention' relates to ;mail clrteszemployed for conveying letters 'from the upper portion of :a building to the areceivi ng box be1oW and' 'particularly v of the &type embodying hi-nged .panels or doors --for permitting ;access to the interier of :the chute "for :cleaning` ethe same or removing stoppagegg and it has for :its object to 'pro- :vide improved imeans -for efi'ectnally securingthe doors or .pa nels in closed position aind ;preventing openings -or Cracks 'be- -tween the panel ;and the body of the chute,

;and permitting the ;manipulation of the panel =by the operator from -a convenient position, so 'that he :can beassured When leaving thechute that it is -per-fectly ada pted for :the con'duction 'of nailnatte'. i

This invention consists in;special -improvements as Will be hereinaftermore f ully described and the novel features pointed out in the cl aims: r

`:In the accompanying drawings e i ,Eigure ;1 is a front elevation ofthe sections othe mail chutebetween the floor and celing. with the intermediate portions broken uw ay; e

' Figure 2 is a ;similar view with the seotion ;looking plate nnlocked :and sW-ung &open; i i

v ;Eigene 3. is ;a front levaton -Wth the rnoteble .panels ordoorsof both sections thrown'open;

Fgure 4 ;iso 'vertical sectional riew on :the-line lr-A of Figure 2; u

Figure 5 is a similar view ;showing the upper rmova ble panel in raised or :unlocked p sition Eigure is-a horizontal sectionalview on the ;li-ne B-B of Figure 44;

`lligure 7 ;is :a horzontal'sectional 'View onthedine C-C o'f Figure' 1; r

Figure 8 ;is e hori-zontal sectiOnaLview ;on ;the line Dio-l) ofiFigure 45, the lu on ;the npper panel being omitted, .and

'Figure :9 is .a View .of the `upper edgeiot ;the topjipaneltshown n 'Figure 5. i

Simi-lar reference nnmera ls indicate simiy tlapiarts ;in the ;several figures.

ventonrelates :usually consist of EL'.ChLItG -=bo"dyaopen preterabl y at the zfron't, the=open ;side being 'closed by a qjlurality i of mova- ;ble ;panels :said .shodyibeing composed of :a

series of snjoerposedsections, the portion tbetween zea'eh celing. ::and floor .heng O :such length :that 1t cash he Conveniently handledy two sections usually being 8111-' and `-provifded With longitudinallvg-extending double fi nges 5in the esides of the opening, the sections 4 'i fitting 'within the `frames or castings 1, 2,;and'3, asshown in %Figure 34:, anclbein .capable of beng ta z isem bled or removed in any suitable mit-n- `glass 6 :contained :in ;a ;suitable ;IIlOlCliI-Ig .or

frame 7 to cooperate with :the flenges doors ofithe chute are adapteclto :he moved outwzirdly topermit *free ;access ;to thjeciniteror of ;the chnte, aas shovrn n I `i-g11re :3, &being :suitehly ihinged :at one side thereof.

'85 ne e: :The front -of the chnteconsists oit' momble doors-:or ;panels embodying thethe one immediately 1abovethe base L, has

its cross her ;8 'provided :With a -pii ot pin 1111 enteringa suitable soeket formed" inthe base, and is provided awitha -down wardly cxten'ding `;fienge .12 edapted, When the penelgis closedto extendinside of the top which the pin 11 has in its socket. The

bar or plate 9 at the upper end of the lower panel engages and protects the upper end of the glass front, and is provided at one end with a socket or recess a dapted to receive the stationary pintle 16 corresponding to and in line with the pintle 11 in the lower end. This bar 9 is also provided with a lifting handle 17, by means of which the tpanel can be lifted vertically upon* its hinge pintles to disengage the lug 13 at the bottom from the base casting permitting the panel to be swung upon its hinges to open position. The panel can also be bodily removed when desired by lifting the pintle 11 out of its socket and moving it laterally to pass the base casting, suflicient play being allowed between the parts to permit this.

The intermediate bracket or casting 2, arranged between the. lower panel just de scribed and the next chute section above it, is 'ormed with a cross bar 18 at the front, the edge of which projects slightly inwardly beyond the lower panel to prevent the lodging of mail matter upon the latter, and also is provided at one end with a lug or boss 19 carrying the pintle pin 16 for the upper and lower panels, and to the outer side of this lug at 15 is hinged a looking bar or plate 20 adapted, when swung to the position in Figure 1, to prevent the swinging movement of the ends of the adjacent swinging panels and cover and prevent the actuation of their Operating mechanism, this looking bar 20 being securcd'in the usua] manner by a key lock 21 when in closed position.

The upper panel or door is adapted to Swing outwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, and also to move vertically on -its -hinges, the plate 10 constituting its lower member being provided with a hinge member having an aperture to receive theupper end of the pintle 16 as shown in Figure 2, and the upper plate or bar 11 being provided with a pintle 21 enterin a corresponding socket or recess at theedge or side of the upper bracket 3 in alinement with the pin 16. The plate or bar 10 is also provided with a lug 22 corresponding to the lug 13 at the lower end of the lower panel, beveled on the front side as shown in Figure 4, and

adapted to rest upon the upper surface ot the lug 23, on the bracket 2 when the panel is swung` open, but serving to hold the lower end ot the panel tightly against the casting or bracket 2 when moved inwardly and downwardly, the inner side ot' the lug on the front of the latter being beveled for this purpose. The bar 10 is also provided with a lifting handle or hook 123, by means ot which the panel may be raised without disengagement from the pintles, this hook, however, being beneath and covered by the bar or plate 20 when in locked position, as

shown in Figure 1, to prevent vertical movement as Will be understood. i p

As the upper panel is of considerable length, and its upper end is usually near the ceiling and inaccessible to the operator under ordinary circumstances, it is necessary to employ means 'tor insuring` the tight closure i of the outer or free edge of the panel when closed, as notwithstanding the greatest oi' care in Construction, such panels will sometimes become slightly twisted. 'In order to insure this proper closing, I cause the upper edgeof the panel that' is removed from the hinge to be drawn closely against its seat din-ing the swinging movementin Closing, the weightot the panel itself contributing to-the result and looking means being incapableot operation until the panel is` in proper position. In the present embodiment ot' the invention, this is accomplish'ed by providing upon the rear side of the upper cross bar 11 a cam flange 26, formed in this instance upon a separate plate 25 and having its lower edge inclined downwardly toward the hinge axis as shown in Figure 3 and also tapered toward the outer free'end of the panel, as shown in Figure 9. This fiange and the bar 25 are so constructed and ar- 'ranged that'when 'the panel is closing as soon as the lug 22 at the lower end of the panel drops ofi its supporting'projection 23,

the lower edge of the fiange 26 drops upon i the bar 2 1. and by the action caused 'by these relativelyinclined surfaoes, the upper end oi" the :tree ed ,qe of the panel is gradually drawn inwardly against the cooperating side wall of the stationary section and held tightly against it` preservinga` the tight joint necessary in' devices of this construction. iVhen the upper panel has moved toits lowermost position, and not untilthen, the Operating handle or some projecting portion of the cross bar 10 is beneath the i'pper edge of the looking bar 20 which can then be swung' over into position and secured by the key lock, thus preventing the unauthorized opening of the chute. a convenient height from the floor. the open ator is assured when this is movable to engaging position that all. part-s of the chute are in proper condition for use. i

The bar 20 being at ;The vertical movement permitted -thc [open at the front, of a' plurality ofsuper- .posed 'panels :hinged at the sides of. the :open- :ing iand verticall y movable on ::their v hinges, 'the upperpanel having a cam connectionat the upperfreefend with the :chute body, operating ;when `'said ;panel *is e :moved :vetically upper :panel `when closed is just sufficient to permit theautoinatic'looking 'e'terred to, as

'shown in &figures f and butisinsu'flicient to prevent disengagement of the hinge niembers because its top bar 11 is then 'beneath fiangc'QQof the -cap piece 30. The upper panel or door can be applied or removed by the relatively vertical movement of the hinge members whenit is swung out to the position shown in Figure 3, the upper end being then clear of the fiange 29. i

lVhile the principal function of the upper closing and looking fiange 26 is to insure the secure closure of the outer free edge of the hinged panel, it is desirable that the cam surface be continuedfrom the outer edge toward the hinge a considerable distance in order that the point of contact between the panel and the support 24 may travel ou wardly from the hinge toward the free edge as 'the panel descends to its locked position, the weight of the panel, of course, contribut- ,ing to this result.

The lower panel might, if desired, be sup ported by a cam connection at its upper end and Secured, as is the upper panel, but' inpractice this is found to be unnecessary as this portion is usually under the direct control of the operator when manipulating the looking bar 20 and he can at once correct any misplacement or improper operation of the parts which are within his reach.

I claim as my invention: i

1. The combination with a mail chute open at one side, of a movable panel adapted to close the opening hinged at one side thereof and also vertically movable, and cam connections between the upper end of the panel and the channel, Operating to draw the upper end of the panel into close contact with the side of the channel when it is moved vertically.

2. The combination with a mail chute open at one side, of a movable panel adapted to close the opening, hinged at one side thereof and also movable vertically and a cam connection between the section and the upper endof the movable panel'operating to draw the free edge ofthe panel into close contact with the section when the 'panel is moved downwardly. i

3. The combination with a mail chute open e at one side, of a movable panel adapted to close the opening hinged at one side thereof and movable vertically, means for supporting the panel when swung outwardly on its hinges and a cam connection between the upper end of the panel and the chute, serving to draw the free' edge of the panel into close contact with the chute when said panel is swung on its hinges toward closed posi` tion and after passing *off the supporting means. i

iu The -combination with a mail chute movable vertically, and 'an inclined hearing and locking ledge between one end of the panel and the chute body serving tosupport the panel when opened and to draw theedge removed' from the hinge into contact' with the side of the chute when said panel is moved on its hinges to closed position. i

'6. The combinaton with a mail chute open at the front and having a bar at one end of the opening, of a movable panel for closing the opening hinged at one side thereof and also movable vertically on its hinges provided with a supporting ledge adapted to engage the bar and inclined downwardly from the outer edge of the panel toward the hinge thereof.

7. The combination with a mail ehuteopen at the front, of .a plurality of movable panels for closing the opening hinged at one side thereof and vertically movable on their hinges, cam connections between said panele and the chute body to draw said panels into opening, of a panel hinged at one side of the i opening and also vertically movable and provided 'With a flange adapted to engage erating upon the vertical movement of the panel to draw the free edge thereof into engagement with the body and position the flange behind the ledge; e

9. The combnation with a;

movable panel for closing the front of the chute and provided with a fiange for engagng the bar, the engaging edges of the bar and fiange being relatively inclined vertically and horizontally to move the panel vertically and laterally into close contact with the channel section when said panel is swung on its hinges to closed position.

mail chute channel section open at the front and the bracket at one end of the section having the transverse bar, of a hinged and vertically ,120

behind the ledge on the chute body and cam connections between the-panel and body op- 10. The combnaton With email chute channel open at the front and supporting brackets at opposte ends, one provided With a cross bar and the other With a supporting projecton at one side of the channel, of a vertcally movable panel for closing the opening hnged at one side thereof and having a` portion at one end engagng the sup po'tng projecton on one bracket nem' the hinge and at the other end an nclned cam fiange engagng the cross bar to draw the free edge of the ;panel When releved from the supporting projeeton. r 1

J OSEPH VVARREN OUTLER. 

